Food slicing and sandwich making machine



Sept. 22, 1936. w. ALLOO 2,055,398

I FOOD SLICING AND SANDWICH MAKING MACHINE Filed April 26, 1935 4 SheetsSheet l EIE 1 TIT 8121b rs- M/n'am fi/lw i5? (Adah ll Sept. 22, 1936.

W. ALLOO FOOD SLICING AND SANDWICH MAKING MACHINE Filed April 26, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 22, 1936. w. ALLOO 2,055,398

FOOD SLICING AND SANDWICH MAKING MACHINE Filed April 26, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 PI E EI- Sept. 22,1936, w. ALLOO FOOD SLICING AND SANDWICH MAKING MACHINE Filed April 26, ,1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 22, 1936 "UNITED STATES FOOD SLICING AND SANDWICH MAKING MACHINE William A1100, Dunedin, New Zealand Application April 26, 1935, Serial No. 18,440

. In New Zealand May 12, 1934 27 Claims. (01. 107 -1 The invention relates to machines for cutting and slicing bread, bacon, cooked foods and the like, which are put up in a form suitable for slicing, andhas for its'object the provision of an improved machine adapted not only to slice said foodstuffs, but which is also capable of dealing with the resultant slices and putting them together to form sandwiches.

It is, known in connection with food slicing machines to provide a reciprocating food holder which operates in conjunction with a rotary cutter, the food being fed forward prior to reaching said cutter so that .upon being passed on to the cutter, said food has a slice severed therefrom.

In this known type of machine there is no provision for holding the slices during formation, with the result that during the cutting or slicing operation, particulary when thin slices are being formed, the portions being severed from the bulk crumple and fall towards and on to a platform provided to receive them. This necessitates sorting and straightening out of slices and is also responsible for waste in broken slices when 'the latter are being .cut for making sandwiches. Furthermore, there is no'provisiqn for'delivering the cut slices from the machine;

The improved machine put forward by this invention with the object of overcoming the beforementioned and other disadvantages, comprises a rotary food cutter; a reciprocating holder for food to be sliced,. operatingin conjunction with said cutter; travelling fingers adapted to gripand hold the, portionof thefood being cut from the bulk thereof; and means actuated from "said holder for causing the fingers to travel with the latter during the slice forming operation and to be returned to their starting position at the completion of the formation of the slice.

'The' improvedfmachine further comprises a series of food holders arranged to be successively ,passed to the cutter so that slices'will bersevered "from the food held therein, the severed slices being inturn gripped and held by the travelling fingers and combined to form a sandwich Further still; the "improved machine provides for theiapplication of butter or the like to the food, by, the use of means adapted to apply said butter or the like to the food beforeit is sliced, said means, when the machine isused for forming sandwiches, beingarranged to apply butter to the food contained in thes'econd and third 'holders only, butter not being applied to the I food in the first holder. o

" In order however, that the invention may be chine, V

better understood it will-be particularly described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which show in detail a machine constructed for making sandwiches. i

Inthe drawingst- Figure '1 is aside elevation of the improved machine,

Figure 2 a plan and Figure 3 a-front elevation thereof, while Figure 4 is a part rear elevation of said maview (with a butterer removed) Figure 5 a crosssectional view (enlarged) of one of the food containers or holders,

Figure 6 a detail view'of the gearing for actuating the feed screw of a food container or holder,

Figure '7 a front view and f Figure 8 a sideview (both views enlarged) of the means for controlling the action of the butterer,

Figure 9 a plan view of the butterer,

Figure 10 a detail view of the eccentric for putting the plunger or pusher in a food container or holder into gear with or for releasing the same from the feed screw of the latter,

Figure 11 a detail view in' elevation, illustrating the gearing for actuating the two sets .of

fingers which handle the slices cutfrom the food, form the sandwiches and deliver the latter from the'machine,

Figure 12a plan viewof part of the mech-- anism illustrated in the la'st mentioned view,

Figure 13 a detail view in elevation of the means for actuating the sandwich holding fingers to cause the latter to be brought to a position for delivery from the machine,

Figure 14 a detail view in elevation of the means for putting the cam bar at the opposite side of the machine to that shewnin Figure 1 into and out of the operative position.

As illustrated in the drawings, the improved machine comprises a base I, from which rise columns or pillars 2, stayed and secured together to provide a frame in which operate alternately downwards and upwards, a number of food con- 5 tainers or holders 3 mounted in vertical alignment in front and back plates 4, the latter being provided with friction rollers or wheels 4a, which bear against the aforesaid columns or pillars 2, said containers or holders 3 and the front and back plates 4, moving ,as a single unit.

The food containers or holders 3, and the fron andba'ck plates 4, are, counterbalanced by weights 5, the ends of the support forwhich' are entered in vertical guides 5a onthe machine frame. The

tainers or holders 3 passing over sprocket wheels 1a keyed on the same shaft 7 at the top of the frame of the machine so that said food containers or holders 3 are at all times maintained in a horizontal position.

A circular knife 8 having its axis horizontal, and in vertical alignment with the horizontal axes of said food containers or holders 3, is mounted in bearings So on a platform or table 9 at the front of the machine frame, and so asto' be adjacent the front ends of the'said containers or holders 3 as they travel alternately downwards and upwards in the aforesaid frame, the front ends of the containers or holders 3 extend ing through the front plate 4 to pass in close proximity tothe circular knife 3, which-is ro tated behind a shield or guard It, through gearing such as a chain and sprocket drive it, and ereductionrgearing Ha, from a prime mover l2 preferably an electric motor locatedon the base i of the machine.

Means for imparting verticalmovement to the food containers or holders {and the front and back plates 4 in the frame, comprise crank discs l3 (Figures 1 and 2) on a cross shaft E4 on the base I, crank rods 15 connected to crank pins 13a on said discs I3 and also to levers l3 pivoted at one end to the machine frame, and at the other end to arms ll pivotally connected to connecting bars 4b between the front and back plates 4 which support the containers or holders 3, the shaft M of saidldiscs l3 b'eing operated through reduction gearing I8, and spur and bevel gearing I'Sjfroiritheprime mover'l'2.

"'Eachfood container or holder 3 (see Figure 5) consists of twosides, a top, and a'bottom, of sheet metal re-inforcedwithspaced bars the latter extending between the front and back plates 4,

one side and the top 2! of each container or holder 3, being permanently secured to said front and back plates 4, while the" portion of the bottom 22', between't'he end plates %,is spring suspended as at 23 at oneedge, from cross bars between the front andba'ck plates 4, the opposite edge of said portion of the bottom 22 being hinged f on and gripping food placed therein.

Preferably the containers or holders 3 are provided with straps 21 in whichare incorporated the hinges 21a aforesaidand to which the clips 25 and spring suspension means 23'ar'e attached. Means for'feeding the food held "in a container orho1der 3 along same to project beyond the cutting plane'of the circular knife-s'to an extent "sufficient tojenable a slice of the desired thickness to be severed from the food held in said consectional shape of the container or holder 3.

' This plunger or pusher 28 is placed behind the "food in the container or holder 3, and is worked along same towards the front end thereof by means of'a screw 29, (Figures 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6) mounted externally of the fixed side '23 of the 'container or holder 3, and'held against travel endways, said plun'geror pusher 28 being mounted on an arm 30a, which extends through a slot 20a in said fixed'side 23,'into thecontainer'or container or holder 3 2,065,998 chains 6 which connect the weights 5 with the C011- holder 3 from a shoe or fitting 33, supported by and adapted to travel along rails or bars 3| between the front and back plates 4 beforem-entioned.

The shoe or fitting 30 aforesaid contains a split nut 32, the upper portion of which is capable of being raised and lowered to release its grip of, and to grip the screw 23 respectively as required, when setting the plunger or pusher 28 in the desired position in the container or holder 3. 1 Meansfor raising and lowering the upper portion of the split nut 32, comprise a spring actuated rod 33 connected thereto and also to a cam 34 (Figures 1, 5 and 10) on the shoe or fitting 30, and according to which radius of the cam 34 is brought to the vertical position, so is the nut 32 released from or caused to grip the screw.

Turning movement is imparted to the screw 29 tocause the plunger or pusher 28 to travel along same towards the front of the foot container or holder 3 per medium of toothed gear wheels 35 (Figures 1, 2, 4 and 6) at the'back end of the container or holder 3, said gear wheels 35 being operated through pawl and ratchet gear 36 (Figures land 6) towards the completion of upward movement of the containers or holders 3 and the front and back plates 3 in the frame.

In order to operate the aforesaid gear wheels 35, the pawls 36a of the ratchet gear 3'5, are carried by spring returned levers 37, which pivot .whereby the ratchet wheels are given a predetermined amount of turning movement to turn the'gear wheels 35, and so impart turning'movement to the screws 29. The stops 38 are adjustable on the vertical rods 39, to provide for variation in the feed of the pushers or plungers 28, whereby slices of different thicknesses may be cut from the food in the containers or holders 3. As a container or holder 3 with food held therein and projecting from its front end, travels downwards, the projecting food passes onto the circular knife 8 and issevered therefrom in a slice, the thickness of which is determined by the amount of projection of the food from the It will be appreciated that the slice being severed from the food, must be kept as close up to the knife 8 as possible, and must also move down-- wards with, and at the same rate of travel as the food in the container or holder 3, if a nonm'utilated or non-deformed severed slice is to be obtained;

In order to provide for holding the slice being severed as close up to the knife 8 as possible during the severing operation, and also to receive same when completely severed, there is provided a series of spaced spring fingers 40, mounted on cross bar 4|, carried by pivotally jointed fittings 42 slidable on vertical rods 43 a fixture at the front of the machine (Figures 1, 2, 3 and 11),.

7 These spring fingers 40 (see Figure lllconsist of doubled flat spring material extending vertically from the bar 4!, and with springs 49b be-, tween their lower portions, the spring formation the latter, said fingers being forced up to their work by a balance weight a, a lever 45 and a connecting rod 46.

In order to cause the spring fingers 48 to travel downwards with, and at the same rate of travel as the container or holder 3 from the food in which a slice is being cut or severed, there are provided on the front plate 4, spring and cam actuated catches 41(Figures 1, 2, 3 and 11) there being two catches 41 in respect of each container or holder 3, said catches 41 being located one at each side of the latter, and in positions so that as the container or holder 3 travels downwards, said catches 41 are caused to engage projections 42a from the aforesaid pivotally jointed fittings 42 slidable on the vertical rods 43, so as to draw downwards the bar 4| carrying the spring fingers 40 whichgrip and hold the slice during the time it is being cut, and after it is completely severed from the food in the container or holder 3.

The means for causing the aforesaid catches 41 to engage the projections 4211 from the pivotally jointed fittings 42 slidable on the vertical rods 43, comprise vertical cam bars 44 (Figures 1, 2, 11 and 14) located behind the front plate 4,

one at each side of the containers or holders 3, I

and adapted to be brought into position for use, and to be put out of position or rendered inoperative, as will be hereinafter described.

The spring and cam actuated catches 41 on the front plate 4, carry friction rollers 41a at their rear ends, said rollers engaging the cam bars 44 when the latter are in the operative'positions and as the containers or holders 3 and the front and back plates 4 descend. The cam bars 44 are formed with recesses 44a therein, and when the rollers 410, on the catches 41 are entered in the latter, said catches 41 are'retracted by their springs and'fail to engage the projections on the fittings 42 which carry the finger-bar 4|. I

There are also provided on the outer side of the front plate 4, vertical bars 48 withrecesses 48a therein, (Figures 2, 3, 11'and 12) to receive rollers 49 on the aforesaid pivotally jointed fittings 42, the latter containing elongated holes (Figure 12) to enable them to have movement on the vertical rods 43 towards and from the front plate 4.

against the projecting end of the food, and grip same under the action of the balance weight 45a I acting on said fingers 40, which are permitted to move towards and against the food, by the elongated holes in the fittings 42 slidable on the vertical rods 43, and also by the rollers 49 on said fittings 42 passing into appropriate recesses 48a in the bars 48 on the front plate'4.

At the same time the rollers 41a of the catches 41 on the front plate 4, related to the container or holder 3 of the food being dealt with, run on to raised or projecting surfaces of the cam bars 44, and force the catches 41 forward against the action of their springs and through the front plate 4, to engage the projections 42a on the pivotally jointed fittings 42 slidable on the vertical rods 43, and as the result of which the bar 4| carrying the spring fingers 48 with the latter gripping or applied to the projecting end of the food, is drawn downwards with and at the same rate of travel asthe container or holder 3 and the food therein, said container or holder 3 and fingers 40 continuing tonmove downwards, with the food passing over the knife 8 and the guard l8 thereof until a slice is completely severed or cut' from the food, and is held solely by the spring fingers 48.

When making sandwiches, it is necessary that the first severed slice whichis cut from a loaf of bread in the lowermost container or holder 3, be returned to the starting position to receive a slice of meat to be cut from meat in the intermediate container or holder 3 next above, and later it is necessary that said slice of bread with the slice of rods 52, with the fittings 42 aforesaid, said levers 5| and rods 52 being pivoted and connected so that downward movement of said further fittings imparts upward movement to'the fittings 42.

At the completion of the severing of a slice from the bread in the lowermost container or holder 3, the rollers 41a of the catches 41 in the front plate 4, related to the lowermost holder or container 3, pass into recesses or depressions 44a-in the cam bars 44 (Figures 1 and 11) with the result that said catches 41 become disengaged from the projections 420, from the fittings 42 which support the finger carrying bar 4|, and as soon as said catches 41, owing-to continued downward movement of the front plate 4, pass said projections 42a, they are immediately forced forward again by their rollers 41a running on further raised or projecting surfaces of the cam bars 44, whereby said catches 41 engage the further fittings '58 before referred to, and by drawing saine downwards'impart through the levers 5|.

and rods 52, reverse or upward movement to the finger carrying bar 4|, and raise the fingers 48 with the severed slice attached, to the position it occupied at the commencement, of the slicing operation by the knife 8 of the bread in the low-- 'ermost container or holder 3, the rollers 41a, of the catches 41 related to the food container or holder 3 just dealt with, then running into shallow portions 53 of the cam bars 44 so asto be out of action for the remainder of the cycle of operations, in course of performance.

,In sandwich making, the intermediate container or holder3, or that container or holder 3 next above, with the meat projecting therefrom,

then moves down to the knife 8 and the already severed slice of bread held by the fingers 4D, is applied to the projecting end of the meat, whereupon a slice of meat is severed from the'bulk of the latter, travels downwards with the cut slice of bread, and is returned upwards again with applied to the end of the bread in saidremaining or uppermost container 3, following which the last required slice is severedfrom the bread 'slidable on one of the vertical rods aforesaid,

upon the front plate 4 commencing'its return or upward movement,.said fitting :55 being connectedby a rod 6!, and one of the rods52 with; the pivotally jointed: fittings 42 carrying the finger supporting bar M. l. f I .x

Upon the spring-fingers 40 with the completed sandwich thereon, reaching the raised position,

saidfingers flit-are swung; outwards from the front plate t :and: brought to a position of rest upon asupporting harfifi. (Eigures 1,. 2, 3 and 1-1) *so as'to alternate with furtherspacedfingers 57 also resting on said bar 53, the swinging over operation of the spring fingers 4! being brought about as follows:-

Aslotted lever 58 (Figuresl and l 3) pivoted on one of the pivotally jointed fittings, 42 which carry the finger'supporting bar M, is engaged V by the end of a raised strip 59 (Figures 1, 3 and 13) on the front plate 4, as the lattertravels upwards, and owing to the slot 66in said lever 58 being passed upon an end of the finger supporting bar 4 I, the latterlis caused to be thrown out- I wards and downwards from the frontplate d, to

bring the spring fingers lfl'with the sandwich thereon, to its position of rest onv the bar 55, and

to hold same in the latter position until the sand- 'wichis' pickedifoff the spring fingers (til by the second set of fingers 5'! beforementioned. The slot 60 in the lever 58 permits the latter to be 7 geperated by the raised strip 59 as the front plate '4 moves downwards without operating the bar The fingers 51 of the second set are mounted on a horizontal bar 62 (Figures 1, 2, 3 and 11) turnable in bearings 62a on the platform or table tat the front of the machine, said bar 62 havingon one end a toothed pinion 63 which meshes with a further toothed wheel 64, a crank pin 65 on which is connected by, a rod .66 with the front end of a lever 61 pivoted below the platform or 7 table 9, the rear end of said lever 67 bemg pro- 50 vided with 'a spring trigger 68, past which a projection 69 on the front plate 4 slips as the latter travels downwards. Upon the front plate 4 moving upwards however the projection 59 engages below the trigger 63 and by imparting movement to thelever 61, operates the toothed wheels 63, 64 to cause the second set of fingers 51 to swing upwards and outwards, so that they "pass between the spring fingers 40, and pick'the sandwich 01f same, and deposit it on a table or in a receptacle'placed to receive it; After delivering the sandwich the second set of fingers Til-is returned to its original position by one or more return springs 10.

Upon the frontplate d nearing the endof its upward movement, the slotted lever-5 8 in which v. the'bar 4| of the spring finger-s is entered, becomes disengaged from the raised strip 59 owing to the latter clearingi said leverffollowing which a bracket 1! .on the front plate l engages a stop l2 on a vertical rod i3 (Figures 1 and '3) at the front of the 'machinefand, pulls same "upwards, andsaid rodl3 being connected to an ar'm Ma on the bar of the spring fingers ullssas-v iiaupw pr e rn h o e th the vertical position again in readiness for use ins ermin ee n rt nd I A spring clip or catchl l (Figures 11 and 12) isprovided on-the outer part of one of the pivotally iointedlfittings AZ which carry the finger supporting bar 4] ,"said' clip or catch 14 being brought into use togripa projection 14d on the inner portion of, thesame fittingand hol'd'the fingers litl verticalwhilel a sandwich is being made. .Thecam bars it wlriich are responsible for causing the spring catches 4'! to be pushed through the front plated 'toengage the fittings 2 and 5B slidableon the vertical rods 33 to cause the owering and f raising of the spring fingers 1w duringthetime they are vertical or during the formationrof the sandwich, are in the operative position only duringdownward travel of the containers or holders 3' and the front and back plates fl, said carnbars l i during upward travel of the containers. or holders 3 and the front and back plates beingYmove-dbackwards clear of the rollers tlfla on the spring'catches 41 as the latter travel upwards. v

These scam barsd l are held behind the front plate ll by pivoted arms 75 from the machine ,1

frame and upon the containers or holders 3 and the iront and back panes ,4 reaching theend of theirdownward travel, the levers l6 employed in the raising 'and lowering of said containers or holders stand the plates l, strike the ends of further levers 73 which are mounted one at each side of themachineiso as to engage under mejections ll onthe cam bar E i, and move the latter :upwardsand away from the plate 4 so that they are withdrawn from the path of travel of the rollers We on the catches 47 as the latter travel upwards.

The. cam bars 4;; are returned to their operativeposit'ions, that is so' that they will be eng ag'ed biy thelrfollers i'iaof the spring catches 41,

on the front plate 4 to force said catches 41 forward, as they travel downwards, uponthe containers or holders ,3 and the front and back plate's 4 reaching the end of their iipward travel, at which stage the counterweightst depress a lever 18 which engages the pin 71 oh one'of the .eem, bars ,i li l', while one of the levers l6 emiployed' inraising and lowering the containers-or holders 3 and the front and back plates strikes a lever- 8i connectecl'withthe other cani .bar 44,

v the result of whiehis that both cam bars M are ,moved. downwardafand towards the plate 4 to a positionwhere their camsiirfaceswillbe irithe downward'path of travel ofoth'elrollers lla or" the ef re e ie i' a e1.

Upltolthe present, no'menti on has been made e buttering or; vthi-geslices and in this connecft onnitlis pointed outthat Bllttl is'liot applied j j to the first sIiceofIbread, but is applied to the end otthe meatbeforea slice ,is out therefrom, and also to.}th-'en'd of' the up ermost loaf of 1 bread hfme'a s ice is ciittheiefiOm, the result wher rithe slihs are combined into a sandwich being, butter at each side of we meet, between the latter, and thebread at each side,

hebiitterti's-containedin' a cylinder 3: pro- V1 ed"w ith o a si nings-a erture in which a horiaontal flutedroller 82 operates s'aid cylinder 8| beingpivotally'hiiifihn the 'f iainelof the mahine afijacent the front. plate 4!, with the roller 82 present'ed'theret'o, and located lust above the lowermost container or holder 3 when the contaiheIS Q or holdifs' ahdth front and back plates 4 iiilly. raised.

jloafof bread in turn.

"said holder n n I the latter during thec'utting operation, and to aoeasoe L which can be operated by hand or by other means, to cause .butter to be forced through the discharge aperture to the fluted roller 82 to be applied by the latter to'the end of the meat, and the end of the upper loaf of bread in turn as they move downwards. j V

The fluted roller 82, has mounted on one end, a friction roller 83 (Figures 1, 3, '7, v8 and 9) which bearsagainst a raised track 84 a fixture on the travelling front plate 4, said track 84 containing recesses 85 positioned and of such length that as the meat and the upper loaf of bread in turn approach the flutedroller 82, the friction roller 83 runs in a recess 85 in the track 84 and allows the fluted roller 82 to contact with the meat or the bread as the case may be and apply butter thereto. V

In order to keep the fluted roller 82 clear of the meat and. the upper loaf of bread as they travel upwards, a vertical sliding bar 86 is mounted on the front plate 4 alongside the fixed track 84, said sliding bar 86 also containing recesses 86a which correspond with the recesses 85 in the raised track 84.

vertical sliding bar 86 travels upwards and downwards with the front plate ,4 and upon the latter with the containers or holders 3 nearing the end of their downwardtravel, the lower end of the bar 86 strikes the base I of the machine or other fixture, and is moved so that its recesses 85a come out of register with the recesses 85 in the track 84 in such a manner that during the whole of the upward travel of the containers or holders 7 the friction roller 83 runs on araised track and keeps the fluted butter applying roller 82 clear of the upwardly travelling parts.

Upon the containers or holders 3 and the front and back plates 4 nearing the end of their upward travel, a pin 81 on the sliding bar 86 strikes a stop 88 on the frame of the machine, and causes said bar'86 to be movedso'that its recesses 86a, again register with the recesses 85 in the raised track 84, so that during downward travel of the container or holders 3 and the front and back plates 4, the butter cylinder 8| can swing inwards by. gravity, when required to applybutter to the end of the meat, and to the end of the upper What I do claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent of the'United States of America is:-

l. A food slicing machine comprising a food cutter; a reciprocating holder forfood to be sliced,

operating in conjunction with said cutter; vertically reciprocating travelling fingers adapted to grip and, hold the portion of the food being cut from the bulk thereof; and means actuated from to cause said fingers totravel with return said fingers to their starting position following the completion of the cutting operation. H

2. A food slicing machine comprising a food cutter; a plurality of reciprocating holders'for food to be sliced, operating in conjunction. with said cutter, and adaptedto be successively passed thereto; travelling fingers adapted to. grip and hold the first portion of food as it is being cut from the bulk thereof in a holder and for com- 7 sandwich; and means actuatedfrom said holders binirig the cut off portions of food to form a to cause said fingers to ,travel, with the latter during the cutting of food held thereby and to return said fingers to their starting position.

3. A food slicing machine comprising a food ,7

3 and the front and back plates 4,

" as required;

cutter; a plurality of reciprocating holders for food to be sliced, operating in conjunction with said cutter, andadapted to be successively passed thereto; travelling fingersadapted to grip and hold the first portion of food as it is being cut from the bulk'thereof in a holder, and for combining the cut off" portions of food to form a sandwich, means actuated from said holders to' cause said fingers to travel with the latter during the cutting of foodheld thereby, and to return said fingers to their starting position; pivoted fingers adapted to receive the sandwich from the travelling fingers; and means for actuating the latter and the pivoted fingers to cause the delivery of the sandwich from the machine.

4, A food slicing machine as in claim 2, wherein the food holders are mounted in front and rear plates sliclable in a frame,to enable them to be alternately passed to, and be moved from the cutter.

5. A food slicing machine, as in claim 2, wherein each foodholder has a spring supported bottom and a side hinged thereto adapted to be made to grip food placed in the holder, said hinged side being provided with means for retaining the holder closed. 1 g 6.. A food slicing machine as in claim 2, wherein each food holder contains a plunger adapted to be made to travel along the holder to cause food contained therein to project therefrom at one end into the plane of the cutter by means of a of the holderfrom the cutter and wherein the gearing for operating the feed screw, comprises toothed gearing and ratchet gearing, the lever of the latter sliding on a vertical rod, and contacting with an adjustable stop thereon during movement'of the food holder from the cutter for the purpose of imparting turning movement to said screw; p

8. A food slicing machine as in claim 2, wherein each food holder contains a plunger adapted to be made to travel along the holder to cause food contained therein to project therefrom at one end mm the plane of thecutter by means of a split nut and a feed screw, the latter being operated through toothed gearing during movement of the holder fromthe cutter and wherein the plunger is carried by an armwhich extends through a slot in the side of the holder from a shoe adapted to travel along rails on the holder, an eccentric provided on said shoe, being connected with said split nut so that the latter may be engaged with orbe disengaged from the feed screw of the holder 9. An improved slicing machine as in claim 2, wherein each food holder comprises aflxed top and a fixed sidesecured between and to front and. rearsliding plates, and a spring supported bottom to which the remaining side is hinged,

said top, bottom and sides being reinforced length ways by bars extending between and secured to said plates; a plunger operable along in said holder from a feed screw, and means for operating the latter.

10.. All improved slicing machine as in claim 2,

6. wherein the food holders are mounted between andsecured to front .andrear plates slidable in a frame, to and from the cutter, said food holders and plates being counterbalanced by weights operating in guides and attached to chains passing over sprocket wheels keyed on the same shaft on the framein which theplates slide.

l1. An improved slicing machine asin claim 2,

wherein the food holders are mounted between and secured tofront and rear plates slidable in a frame,to andfrom the cutter, said food holders and Y plates being counterbalanced by weights operating in guides and attached to chains passing over sprocket wheels keyedon the same shaft on the frame in which the plates slide and wherein the food holders and the front and rear plates are operated in the frame, through crank discs, connecting rods and levers, saiddiscs being operated through gearing from a prime mover in the fram of the machine. a I

12." An improved slicing machine as-in claim 2, wherein the fingersfor gripping and holding the portion offood being cut. from the bulk thereof in I a holder, are spaced on a bar carried by pivotally jointed fittings slidable on vertical rods,

said fittings having projections. adapted to be engaged by catches on a sliding plate to which theholders are secured and with which they travel.

H 13. A food slicing machine as in claim'2, wherein the fingers for gripping and holding the portion of food being cutfrom the bulk thereof in a holder, are spaced on a bar carried by pi'votally jointed fittings slidable on vertical rods, said a holder, are spaced on abar carried by pivotally jointed fittings" slidable on vertical rods, said fittings having projections adapted to be engaged by catches on a sliding plate to which the holders are securedand at which they travel and wherein the pivotally jointed fittings are connected through rods and levers, with other fittings slidable on the vertical rods in the reverse direction to said pivotally jointed fittings, sai d further fiti .tings being adapted to be engaged by the catches on the sliding plate after they have become disengaged from the pivotally jointed fittings for the purpose of causing the latter and the bar with the spaced fingers thereon to move from the cutter, whilethe sliding plate moves towards the latter.

- 15; A -food slicing machine as in claim 2, wherein the fingers for gripping and holding theportion of food beingv cut from the bulk thereof in a ,holder, are spaced on a bar carried by pivotally jointed fittings slidable on vertical rods, said fittings having projectionsadapted to be engaged by catches on asliding plate to which the holdersare secured and at which. they travel and wherein the pivotally jointedfittingsare con- 'nected by rods "with lower fittings also; slidable on the vertical rods in the same direction as said pivotally jointed fittings, one of said lower fittings 'being adaptedfor engagement by a pivoted hooked catch on the sliding plate as the latter moves from the cutter, for the purpose of causing the fingers toalso travel from the cutter.

16. A food slicing machine as in claim 2, 'where-' in the fingers forgr pping and holding the portion of food being cut from the bulk thereof in a 5 holder, are spaced on a bar carried by pivotally jointed fittings slidable on vertical rods, said fittings having projections adapted to be engaged by catches on a sliding plateto which the holders are secured and with which they travel and T0:

wherein said, catches on the sliding plate are spring actuated to project through the latter andare also provided with rollers adapted to run on cam bars held in an operative position during movement of the holders towards the cutter and wherein the cam bars are pivotally mounted on arms and are moved into and out of the line of travel of thev rollers of the catches on the sliding plate to cause said catches to either engage, or to permit them to clear the fittings slidable on the 23 vertical rods by levers employed in the operation of the food holders and the balance weights contacting with and operating levers pivoted to and engaging said cam bars.

17. A food slicing machine as in claim 2, where- 95 in the fingers for gripping and holding'the'portion of food being cut from the bulk thereof in a holder, are spaced on a bar carried by pivotally jointed fittings slidable on vertical rods, said fittings having projections adapted to be engaged by catches on a sliding plate to which the holders are secured and at which they travel and wherein the fingers for gripping and holding food being severed from the bulk food, consist of doubled flat spring material with springs between their lower portions. 7

l8. Afood slicing machine as in claim 2, wherein the fingers for gripping and holding the portion of food being cut from the bulk thereof in a holder, are spaced on a bar carried by pivotally jointed fittings slidable on vertical rods, said fittings having projections adapted to be engaged by catches on a sliding plate to which the holders are secured and at which they travel andwhere in the bar on which the fingers arespaced is car- 25 ried' by portions of the pivotally jointed fittings adapted to pivot on the portions thereof slidable on the vertical rods, one of the last mentioned portions having thereon a projection adapted to be engaged by a spring catch on the portion '50 pivoted thereto.

19. A food slicing machine as in claim2, wherein the fingers for gripping and holding the portion of food being cutfrom'the bulk thereof in a holder, are spaced on a bar carried by pivotal1y jointed fittings slidable on vertical rods, said fittings having projections, adapted to be. engaged by catches on a slidingplateto which the holders are secured and with which they travel and whereinsaid bars on which the fingers are HO spaced is carried by portions of the pivotally .jointedfittings adapted to pivot on .the portions thereof slidable on the vertical rods, one of the last mentioned portionshaving thereon a. projection adapted to be engaged by a spring case on 'oo the portion pivoted thereto and wherein the portions of the pivotally jointed fittings slidable on the vertical rods contain elongated holes which pass upon the latter, said portions also carrying rollers which run against tracks. containing re--- cesses and mounted on the sliding plate between and to which the holders are secured. 7

20. A food slicing machine as in claim 2, wherein the fingers for grippingand holding the portion of food being cutfrom the'bulk thereof in a -7'5 holder, are spaced on a bar carried by pivotally jointed fittings slidable on vertical rods, said fittings having projections adapted to be engaged by catches on a sliding plate to which the holders are secured and at which they travel and wherein the fingers for gripping and holding a portion of food being severed from the bulk thereof, are forced up against the food by weights acting through levers and connecting rods.

21. A food slicing machine as in claim 2, wherein the fingers for gripping and holding the portion of food being cut from the bulk thereof in a holder, are spaced on a bar carried by pivotally jointed fittings slidable on vertical rods, said fittings having projections adapted to be engaged by catches on a sliding plate to which the holders are secured and at which they travel and wherein the fingers for gripping and holding the portion of food being cut from the bulk thereof are forced outwards and downwards from the sliding plate onto a supporting bar by a lever pivoted on one of. the pivotally jointed fittings and containing a slot passed upon an end of the finger bar being engaged by a raised strip on the sliding plate as the latter moves from the cutter.

22. A food slicing machine as in claim 2, wherein the fingers for gripping and holding the portion of food being cut from the bulk thereof in a holder, are spaced on a bar carried by ,pivotally jointed fittings slidable on vertical rods, said fittings having projections adapted to be engaged by catches on a sliding plate to which the holders are secured and at which they travel and wherein the fingers for gripping and holding the portion of food being severed from the bulk thereof are returned to their food gripping and holding position by a rod connected to an arm on the finger bar being actuated by a projection on the sliding plate to pull said fingers upwards.

23. A food slicing machine as in claim 3, wherein the pivoted fingers are spaced along a bar having on one end a toothed pinion which gears with a toothed wheel connected by a rod with a spring returned lever having thereon a trigger adapted to be engaged by a projection on the sliding plate, as the latter moves from the cutter, to cause said fingers to be swung upwards and outwards between the spaced fingers on the bar carried by the pivotally jointed fittings for the purpose set forth.

24. A food slicing machine comprising a cutter; a plurality of reciprocating holders for food to be sliced, operating in conjunction with said cutter and adapted to be successively passed thereto, travelling fingers adapted to grip and hold the first portion of. food as it is being cut from the bulk thereof in a holder and for combining the cut off portions of food to form a sand- .wich; a butter container provided with a discharge aperture containing a horizontal fluted roller hung on the frame so that said roller makes contact with the food in the second and following food holders; and means actuated from the holders to cause said fingers to travel with the latter during the cutting of. food held thereby and to return said fingers to their starting position.

25. A food slicing machine as in claim 24, wherein the fluted roller of the butter container has on one end a roller adapted to run on a raised track on the sliding plate, said track containing recesses to permit the butter container to swing inwards in order that the fiuted roller will contact with the food in the second and following food holders.

26. A food slicing machine as in claim 24, wherein the fluted roller of the butter container has on one end a roller adapted to run on a raised track on the sliding plate, said track containing recesses to permit the butter container to swing inwards in order that the fluted roller will contact with the food in the second and following food holders and wherein a bar containing recesses corresponding to the recesses in the raised track, is slidable alongside the latter, for the purpose of. presenting to the roller a recessed track when the sliding plate moves towards the cutter and an unrecessed track as said plate moves from the latter.

27. A food slicing machine as in claim 24, wherein the fluted roller of the butter container has on one end a roller adapted to run on a raised track onthe sliding plate, said track containing recesses to permit the butter container to swing inwards in order that the fluted roller will contact with the food in the second and following food holders and wherein the sliding bar is moved to provide an unrecessed track by its lower end striking a fixture near the finish of movement of the sliding plate towards the cutter, and wherein said bar is moved to provide a recessed track by a pin striking a stop on the machine frame near the finish of movement .of said plate away from the cutter.

WILLIAM ALLOO. 

